New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-04
STATEMENT FROM DR. SMITH
HIS ANSWER TO THE ATTACKS UPON HIM.
EXPOSING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND MALICIOUS
PERSECUTION.

Of The Nee Fork Times and its INSCRIPTIONS ring Of rag
Importers have Induced me to devlate from my usual
OF patient endurance OF the Misrepresentation
and SANDERS with which 1t has pursued for long me
and ask of you opportunity for statement of facts.
During the session of the Legislature In 1880 sum-
served upon and published in full lin The
Nev York Times for conspiracy with H. b. Bartlett CO.
In securing the disnfection OF rags the -barks
vigante, from Japan, and Battaglia, from Italy.
The object Of the publication Of the summons well
understood to he TO secure influence adverse TO the
Health Officer and his friends In the Legislature, and
particularly tho upper branch OF It. For several months
past his enieayored TO bring the 10 trial.
the plaintiffs earnestly endcayorng to postpone It, On
several occasions previous TO tho trial, which COIN
menced oil April 49, parties who wero av7wedly In the
interest OF The Ne York Times through mutual friends
suggested compromise and dismissal OF the pending
suit The reply TO these suggestions wns that the rug
ring it's allies have made the OF their oppor
tunity in publishing the and the msrep-
reservations based upon It, and that the plaintiffs must
prove their allegations dismiss the publicly as
II had been commenced.
After days trial and all the Of this COM
binaton of politicians and rag importers had been cx-
hastcd In the attacks upon the official acts of the Health
officer, to show at least inference OF corruption
the Judge charges the jury that conspiracy had not been
proved and although the jury allowed under diIcc
OF the court 10 infer conspiracy from subsequent
and words OF the Health officer 1t stood six to five
for verdict for the Health officer 1t was also con-
clusvey proved that connected with the New
York Quarantine was In any manner interested in the
disinfection Of rags.
Every step TAKEN every measure adopted to alay pub
lie apprehension and protect the public against the
dreaded disease which ravagng the populations OF
Continental Europe in 1884 and 1885 was tortured by
this combination and used upon the trial by their counsel
with ingenious sOphstry and interruptions misrepesen
taton to prove corrupt intent the part of the Health
officer.
Three sets OF attorneys considered necessary to
effect the desired resut-One for the nominal plaintiff
one who the attorney OF The Ne York Times and one
who well able to excite the political prejudices OF
| the jury.
In view Of the expected invasion cholera the
tary OF the Conference OF National Boards OF Health Dr.
Mccormick OF Kentucky called meeting OF the execu
tive committee of the conference at Washington. d. C.,
for August T. 1884, and the committee issued call for
conference OF Boards OF Health which met In washing
December 10 and IL following, and was one OF the
greatest and most influential representative health
organizations, State and municipal that assembled
in the United states This conference considered long
and earnestly the danger OF invasion OF this country
by cholera and the OF avertng H. or, II should
obtain a Judgment, the measures necessary to limit or
prevent its extension The Secretary Of state and The
Secretary OF the Treasury invited conference with
delegated committee OF the conference TO confer upon
the danger and prevention Of cholera from imported
rags in relation 10 which, at Cabinet meeting held the
day previous. difference OF opinion between the secre
between the Secretaries and committee OF nine mem
bers appointed by the conference including delegates
from widely separated parts OF the United states. was
request by Secretary the Treasury that the
should embody s views Of the danger from I'M
ported rags and the necessary to prevent H.
The conclusions OF the committee were submitted to
the conference and were unanimously approved by 1t
and Transmitted the Secretary OF the Treasury signed
by H. Wacot chairman, and ) :. Herrick. secretary,
OF the committee.
The recommendation Of the conference are almost
identical with the circular issued by the secretary In tho
circular OF December D. 1851 and which has governed
the Health Officer rules for the admission OF rags
at the port Of New-York for two years past
II has been per-lsicnty represented by The Ner York
Times and the ring that the Health Onccr NJ New
York was the active agent OF corrupt combination IA
the conference at Washington. What the Health Ohiccr
did do "A his confrcres the committee will bear wit
ness impress upon the Secretary OF the Treasury
McCuloch the propriety and justice Of allowing rag TO
be di-infcccd before shipment under the supervision oil
n nspector 20 be appointed by Government and he
has up 10 present time admitted all rags accompanied
by certificate of disnfcctiOn from the Inspector aud
certified 10y the United states Consul Mt the port of
shipment Fifteen siXteenths OF the rags imported AT
this port In the past years have been admitted with
these certificates candid public need no other proof
that the Health officer has had no connection with The
! dsinfcction company at this port
The combination OF politicians AMI rag importers VINO
have long known that the policy Of the Health Ofccr
was ruinous 20 any plan Of distinction al TINS port
| ncvertbelcs, have pursued him hand-inhand. Poll
tcans of The Times stripe. with the hope OF snlrcne
him bv the grossrs misrepresentation, and with hin
y gentlemen prominent IN the Republican party IN
"a nfeton OF their rags either before after shipment
Importers who know that the rags mat they lmpor
oau,c more disease and death than all other products
a human Industry. that Imported into this or othe
countries authentic records from every country iron
which sanitary records received attest this Ana ye
these importers would send their rags upon their erad
~ dscasc and death without thought but Of their gain
10 The discussion OF the subject the importation Of OLE
rags at the Washington conference developer son,
sr belief cholera hut OF the dangers IRON them
ir and that other contagious diseases, hy M ra
poI Was frequently ana %as o aTn o record Viii EN-
The MassacHusetts State Board OF Health report 70
1873. page i63 show that W Sasss ni :. e
thirteen months preceding had their source OF oc
* In answer TO inquiries made by Or j. H. Raymond tn
g. Health Commissioner OF brooklyn, nineteen ooaduS
- health had known of contagious diseases from rags
cases smallpox and II epdcmics oil hat disease 'ne''
.. T. there any other article OF with even III
r record which is not the hundredth par OF ~ 'nat "o
- bo Tolerated by health and sanitary authorities -
I'd In The summer OF $50 the apprehension chat cholera
o. which wa. at that time numbering It's victims IN SPAN
be tens Of Thousands. would reach our country sS c
never failed 10 do IN lts previous INVASION, Oh IN. w..
within brief period amer had ihlue iots t, ever
~ prevailed In an classes and found NlresSVn rom ~ a
friend qcquainanoe Ihe , ansy 1c . at th nor
oI whom the public demanded such vigilance ~ woul
at prevent the admission Of the dreaded plague can .
ly better imagined than described IN me slhus VI nf
10 Tho increasing anxiety and apprehension made GOMEZ
ar cnce of the health authorities AT or near uo PI,
or ports on the Northern Atlantic seaboaru neco,S
secure an expression Of opinion In respect 10 ats
ch ference met ia York city April 2J lss3 inc u
eccs-ary for the detention of passengers AFTER eN'I
no 10 cholera tho agents considered ciccnt oi Tue 40
an lion of ships baggage, cargocs Including rays %
nd cnssed and agreed upon with entire unaninS, , Ia
g action ly the Health Officer has been tortured ln'"
- evidence Of corrupt combination Had ne ,iicd u,
,,. utercs, I'm the health conferences of this period
ng would have been roundy abused aud properly by tn1
ad Mn I we're dcpendrnt on him for protection from u
a Contagious and infectious diseases that hir Iapc
he enter The port through tS great highway from tg sea-
er has served the purposes OF tl7 TING W 49,,
GER rae nnoricr, To call before the public nina thc hcs
IL Of the Health In sS3 when cholera was III s9
- to srcrc the di,infectiOn OF rags from tlat county
no fore sipncnt this il distant In time Tor the'r P
a.. | pose. ,,.... T., ii. ,,ro.cut nosition l. abs
OF Iutry d'stroyed" says The Aeio York Times lhl7 20
ip cuson must be arrived at because thc lOltcni "i